Melissa Stoffel

Melissa Stoffel

José M. Osorio/ Chicago Tribune

49, high school custodian, West Bend, Wis. "We started the day off just lovely," says Stoffel. She's talking about sipping peppermint patties (chocolate and peppermint schnapps) in Macy's Walnut Room at the outset of a long day of shopping here. She and her co-worker had already hit Macy's, Fannie May candy and Garrett Popcorn before they stopped at the Disney Store on Michigan Avenue en route to American Girl. Stoffel's Mickey and Minnie Mouse are for her own teddy bear collection, purchased in anticipation of an upcoming trip to California. The popcorn isn't a gift, either. She and her friend ate it on the long bus ride home.

49, high school custodian, West Bend, Wis. "We started the day off just lovely," says Stoffel. She's talking about sipping peppermint patties (chocolate and peppermint schnapps) in Macy's Walnut Room at the outset of a long day of shopping here. She and her co-worker had already hit Macy's, Fannie May candy and Garrett Popcorn before they stopped at the Disney Store on Michigan Avenue en route to American Girl. Stoffel's Mickey and Minnie Mouse are for her own teddy bear collection, purchased in anticipation of an upcoming trip to California. The popcorn isn't a gift, either. She and her friend ate it on the long bus ride home. (José M. Osorio/ Chicago Tribune)

49, high school custodian, West Bend, Wis. "We started the day off just lovely," says Stoffel. She's talking about sipping peppermint patties (chocolate and peppermint schnapps) in Macy's Walnut Room at the outset of a long day of shopping here. She and her co-worker had already hit Macy's, Fannie May candy and Garrett Popcorn before they stopped at the Disney Store on Michigan Avenue en route to American Girl. Stoffel's Mickey and Minnie Mouse are for her own teddy bear collection, purchased in anticipation of an upcoming trip to California. The popcorn isn't a gift, either. She and her friend ate it on the long bus ride home.José M. Osorio/ Chicago Tribune